Construction Updates

Construction of the fiber ring is set to begin in September. Weekly updates will be provided here to keep community leaders, residents and businesses informed of the project's construction. 

Ookla Speed Test

County Executive Ilene Shapiro is asking residents, businesses, schools, libraries, local governments and others to take an internet speed test sponsored by her office to better understand coverage gaps and high-speed availability in Summit County. The data collected by the County will be used to apply for federal funding to bring better access to areas with low-speed or no internet service. The test was developed by the Executive’s GIS team and Ookla, web service that provides free analysis of Internet access performance metrics.

The test is available below. It will begin automatically when you scroll down. We encourage users to take it mutliple times, at different times, on different days, and with different devices. We also have a survey below the test related to internet performance and cost. All information collected will be kept confidential and not used for any other purpose. Please complete the survey after you take the test! 

Take the Survey Now

What is Summit Connects?

Summit Connects is a local solution to significant broadband/internet concerns in Summit County. Currently, there are very few options available to address security, speed and affordability. Communities of all sizes in Summit County struggle to address these concerns and the costs of implementing solutions. Summit Connects will deliver increased security, speed and affordability, and provide local customization/flexibility not found with any other solution.

The County has provided a grant to the Development Finance Authority (DFA) for this project. The DFA is now leading the construction and installation of the 130-mile fiber ring and will own it once complete.

All costs are covered by Summit County. The County and Fairlawn will be responsible for operating, maintaining and repairing the fiber ring.

Summit Connects Phase 1: Connecting all 31 communities to the public safety fiber ring to enhance quality and security of safety services and other critical local government services (ex: broadband for public safety, connection of utilities).

Summit Connects Phase 2: Intend to negotiate with one or more entities that own and/or are willing to construct last-mile fiber assets within Summit County for the purpose of undertaking a public-private partnership to provide broadband internet to the residents and businesses by utilizing the fiber ring as a middle-mile network.

Digital Inclusion

Summit County is taking a major step toward digital equity and inclusion with the creation of a Summit County Digital Equity Framework. We have partnered with the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) to create an Equity Strategy. This work will be led by Steering Committee made up of community members and stakeholders. 

To launch this work, we held a webinar to introduce the tenets of digital inclusion and equity, and to discuss how we can effectively close the digital divide in our community. As we make a landmark investment in Summit Connects, we want engagement from all 31 communities to ensure that our residents, especially disadvantaged residents, are included in an increasingly digital world.

Watch webinar recording

To learn more about NDIA, visit https://www.digitalinclusion.org/.